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Watauga County moved one step closer to having a year round indoor water park Tuesday evening when the Commissioners granted an ordinance variance request to Satchmo Construction, a company managed by project developer Steve Moberg. The project’s master plan had already received
preliminary approval from the County’s Planning Board. The next step in the sequence of permits and approvals from varying local and state agencies was to obtain permission to exceed the 40 feet building height restriction contained in the County’s building ordinances. For this to be considered the Commissioners were required to conduct a quasi-judicial hearing. During the hearing Mr. Moberg explained why the height variance was needed to house the slides and other facilities. Mr. Moberg also shared that if the project were approved it would bring around 400 year round jobs to the county. After testimony was provided by Mr. Moberg and County Planning Director, Joe Furman the Commissioners held a required “finding of facts” process as prescribed by County Attorney, Four Eggers. Following the “finding of facts” the Commissioners unanimously approved the variance.